Leader of the Labour group, Councillor Alan Rhodes, who represents Worksop North is proposing the motion.

Speaking before the debate on July 11, he said: “We are calling on this council to write to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, (Jeremy Wright) to ask him to consider the consequences of this action, particularly in view of the fact that this government had pledged to maintain free TV licences ‘for the duration of this parliament’, which is still ongoing.

READ MORE: Your Chad backs rally to keep free TV licence for over-75s“We are also requesting for a letter to be written to the BBC to ask if they too will reconsider their decision, as we believe it will cause further isolation and loneliness to many elderly, frail and ill people across this county who are already feeling the effects of austerity and may not be able to afford this extra expense.

“TV is a lifeline for many elderly and vulnerable people in our Nottinghamshire communities, and removing the free TV licence from the over 75s is callous and cruel.”

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: “It was the Government who decided to stop funding free TV licences for all over 75s, and Parliament gave the BBC the clear responsibility to decide and consult on the future policy.